Cushioning apparatus for vehicle-frames.



R. HERMAN.

cusrnomm APPARATUS FOR vmncmz: FRA'AA-s. APPLIOATION FILED JAN.Z1,1903.RENEWED DEO.10, 1912 1,064,215. Patented lune 10,1913.

2 SHEETS-"SHEET 1,

Aux/M E R. HERMAN.

OUSHIONING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 21, 1908. RENEWED 0110.10, 1912.

1,064,21 5, Patented June 10,1913.

2 BHEBTSSHEET Z Maw JNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

BEINHOLD HERMAN, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANfA.

GUSHIONING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE-FRAMES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1913.

Application flied January 31, 1908, Serial No. 411,880. Benewed'Decemher 10, 1918. Seriai Ea. 786,043.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REINHOLD HERMAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing atCraf'ton, in the county of Alle- Igheny and State ofPennsylvanla, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improve ments inCushioning Apparatus for Vehicle- Frames, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.Y This invention relates to motor vehicles of that class embodying asuspension frame or i chassis formed of two superimposedframe membersand the object thereof is to provide means associating with the upper ofsaid frame members for constituting a cushion for the said upper memberwhereby the said member will and at the same time causing a reduction ofpressure upon the vehicle springs consequently increasing the durabilityand life of the latter, as well as furthermore reducing shock andvibration to a minimum to those parts of the vehicle carried by theupper 2 frame member, which otherwise would be imparted thereto, whenthe vehicle is traveling over'an uneven-road bed or meets with anobstruction. v

I Futher objects of the invention are to provide a cushioning means ashereinafter set forth for the upper frame member of a two partsuspension frame or chassis and which shall be simple in construction,strong, du-

rable, efficient, in its use, readily set up and icomparativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

, As before stated, tlie invention aims to provide means to constitute acushion for the upper frame member of a'jtwo pertainspension framethereby reducing shock and I 0 vibration to' the parts carried bytheupper frame member when the vehicle-meets with an obstruction or travelsover an uneven road bed and furthermore at the same timerelievingpressureupon the springs of the vehicle and as showing oneembodiment. of a the invention so that it can be clearly understoodreference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of thisspecification, but it. will furthermore be understood that changes,variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within thescopmof the claims hereunto appended.

In the drzfirings, where like refere ces denote corresponding partsthrougliiiut the several'views Figure l is a transverse sec-.

tional view looking towardtthe rear axle of e cpshioned when shifted avehicle showing the adaptation therewith of a cushioning means inaccordance with this invention. for the upper frafne member of a twopart suspension frame or chassis. Fig. 2 is a log 3 is a-detail ilstrating one of the cushioning elements, and Fig. 4. is a top plan viewof a chassis, equipped with my improved cushioning means.

So that the invention can be readily understood the adaptation thereofis shown by way of example in connection with a suspension frame orchassis formed of an upper and a lower frame member and of aconstruction similar to that as disclosed in my co-pending applicationSerial No. 313,525 filed April 25, 1906 and therefore it is thoughtunnecessary to specifically describe the suspension frame or chassisother than a brief description of those parts which cooperate with thecushioning member of a two-part suspension frame or chassisl Referringto the drawings in detail, I de- 'tudinal sectionalfview. Fig.

.notes an upper frame member formed with" so ,side, front and end bars,at its forward end} rigidly connected to the front bolster of thevehieleand at its rear end so connected that the bolster may movewithout imparting movement to the said frame member. The lower framemember which is indicated by the reference character 2 and is formed ofside, front and end bars, is connected at its forward end in a mannersimilar to that of the connection between the upper frame member andrear bolster and the rear end of the lower frame member 2 is rigidlyconnected to the rear axle of the vehicle. The

foregoing is of known constructionand no v claim made herein to suchconstruction per 86. An upper frame member in accordance with thisinvention, however, is provided with a pair of abutments in the form ofnarrow and flat transversely-extending bars .3, 3 secured to the -lowerface of the side bars of the upper frame member at a point rembved fromthe front and rear-'bars of the same. 7

Fixed to each of the side bars of the lower frame member forwardly andrearwardly thereupon, are the cushioning cylinders 4- 5, the cylinders42 being positioned upon one side bar of said frame and the cylinders 5upon the opposite side bar of the said frame. The cylinders 5 arepositioned directly opposite the cylinder-s4 and a cylinder 45.associated with a cylinderwi.

Each of the .cush tioned at the when the cylinde straddle the sidemember.

the yokes and the frame member are th which constitute means the rear cubars of the;

cylinders 4:, 5 positi is provided with later y the front cyli the sidebars The front 0 frame, lugs 6 be secured to more provided with nipplesformed 0 ranged directly 0 on the cylinders cylinders 4 are con thecylinders fluid conductin sections 10 and 'l four-way coupling 13.

The sections 10 and the transver of the cou of the lo of th diuin. formt as well as with ioning cylinders 4, 5 of the frame is pr shioning cyEach of the cushionipg between the cylinders at each end of the 5 andthe n 5 by transverse pipes eachfo 1 connected 't pling l3 and cngitudinally ext e coupling 13 14 of known construct-i adapted to bedetachabl for supplyingflui-d under air, steam or water to the wherebythe cylinders will fluid which constitutes. a

The conducting pip he function set fort acts as a brace for its respconstituting a co for the aid displaced from a pair and supplied toanotthe pair during To control the cylinder and-the fluid to the othemanually operated valve 15 positioned of each'conducti sectionlO and sto govern the discharge displaced from a cylind ders during the cushiopressure controlling provide means to prev ment of the upper fra lowerframe as it is e that the displaced reference to th cylinder and theinto the other cy the cushioning fluid .displaoeme aid va ve is soposiing pipes areconnected together by a longi ovided tudinallyextending branch pipe 16 attached yoke 6, the arms of which at its endsto longitudinall extending at 7 and the said yokes, branches of thefour-way coup ings 13. p s are in position, are to In order that thepair of cylinders at the ars of the lower frame front of the frame maybecut ofi' fromthe ng through the arms of cylinders atthe rear of theframe, or vice ide bars of the lower versa, should a cylinder of eitherpair be holdfast devices 8 damaged .or become ino rat-ive forJanysecuring cause, I provide a cut-o valve 17 in the to the side pipe'l6which establishes communication t frame. With this cut-off valve open,it will lly extendinfg be obvious that with the air supply connders 4, 5can nected to either of the valves 14, air will be of the lower suppliedto alh of the cylinders. But with linders 4, 5 the cut-oil valve 1?closed, it is necessary to ill be in alineconnect the'air'su ply meanswith the valve ear cylinders. 14 of the particul Y g cylinders isfurtherdesired to charge. The provision of this let nipple 9, thecut-oil valve 17 serves an additional funcders 4 beingartion, in thateither pair of cylinders may be nipples formed charged to a greaterextent than the other ipples of the pair, to provide for varyingconditions'in he nipples of the load between the frontand rear of thely-extending vehicle. For instance, if the vehicle is rmed of twoheavily loaded at the rear, the cut-off 17- can ogether by a be closed,and the pair of cylinders at the ar pair of cylinders it is rear of themachine supplied with say 90 11 are secured pounds pressure of air, andthe pair of. cylnding branches: inders at the front of the machinesupplied onnected to one with say pounds ressure. Obviously, endingbranches the cut-ofl 17 being cl -is a check valve passed from the frontpair of cylinders to on and to which is thereai' pair/ By this means Iam enabled connected a means to ,provide for difie ential, loads on" thepressure, such as rame. i

' g pipw Mounted in each of the'cushioningcylinbe charged with ders isavertically movable'piston 18 which cushioning me.-- is of such a lengthasto proj ect above the es not only being indicate .by sand arranged atbutinents which pair, a are secured te the lows face of the upperaressure controlling frame member? n one of the sections To' preventleaf 7 ng pi e, as shown in the "fluid past the iston' disposed as theCyliDdEIS IRCh of the fluid which'is inner face at itsoutez C er ofapair of cylinto provide a seat. f0 'th T the compressed he outer ends ofut awav a Packing rings 25 ning operation. The against which abutaflanged gland 26, the

valves furthermore latter secured in position a1 flanged ment any rapidmoveteriorly'threaded collar'27 engaging threads me with respect totheupon the peripherypf the cylinder whereb vident as before stated, saidcollar is secured ,to the cylinder. fluid can be regulated From theforegoingarrangement of parts e discharging from one it is evident thatthe cushioning cylinders g of said fluid and their pistons are'sodisposed as to sup- The fluid conductport the upper frame member u penthe th latter has its pertop of its respective cylinder and the said buteach also. projecting end ofthe bifurca-tc' ective cylinders as at 19with the arms 20 formed by the nductingirn'eans Ifurcation carrying theroller 21 the one cylinder of flanges of the Jolie 2 her cylinder ofthe: reference charao operation. eachside of theperipherythereof wherebya nt in one groove 23 is. provided.". grooves 23 of supplying of thedisplaced the rollers, 21}; i'eceiveth" 'inder of the lower frame memberthrough the medium of the transversely-extending abutments which engagein the grooved rollers 21 and therefore if the upper frame member shiftsit would be against the action of the fluid within the cushioningcylinders, consequently the upper frame member would be cushioned andreduce the transfer of shocks and the vibration of the parts carried bythe upper frame member to a minimum when the vehicle is traveling overan uneven road bed or meets with an obstruction. Owing to thedisposition of the cushioning elements with respect to the upper framemember it is also evident that pressure upon the vehicle springs isrelieved to a great extent as he said cushioning elements areindependent of the springs of the vehicle. This arrangement increasesthe life of the vehicle springs.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a suspension frame embodying an upper memberyieldinglysupported at both ends, a lower frame memberyieldingly-supported at one end and non-yieldingly but pivotallysupported at its other end, and cushioning means carried by the lowerframe member and engaged by the upper frame member, said cushioningmeans constituting supplemental yielding supports for the upper framemember.

In combination, a suspension frame embodying an upper memberyielding-lysupportcd at both ends, a lower frame memberyieldingly-supported at one end and non-yieldingly but. pivotallysupported at its other end, and fluid cushioning means carried by thelower frame member, said fluid cushioning means constitutingsupplemental yielding supports for the upper frame member.

3. In combination, a suspension frame embodying an upper member,yieldinglysupported at both ends, a lower frame memberyieldingly'supported at one end and nonyieldingly but pivotallysupported at its other end, fluid cushioning cylinders arranged in pairson the lower fram member, and plungers operating in said cylinders andengaged by the upper frame member, said tlnid cushioning cylindersconstituting supplemental yielding supports for eac end of the upperframe member.

l. In combination, a suspension frame embodying an upper memberyieldinglysupported at both ends, a lower frame memberyieldingly-supported at one end and non-yieldingl but pivotallysupported at its other end, uid cushioning cylinders arranged in pairson the lower frame member, plungers operating in said cylinders,

connections between said pairs of cylinders, means connecting one pairof cylinders with the other pair, and means carried by the upper frameengaging said plungers, said cushioning cylinders constitutingsupplemental yielding supports for each end of the upper frame member.

In combination, a suspension frame embodying an upper member rigidlyconnected at. its forward end and pivotally-connected at its rear end,a. lower frame member pivotally-connected at its forward end andnon-yieldingly but pivotally supported at its rear end, fluid cushioningcylinders arranged in pairs on the lower frame member, plungersoperating in said cylinders, means establishing communication betweenthe cylinders of each pair, means for closing said communication betweenthe cylinders of each pair of cylinders, means for establishingcommunication between the pairs of cylinders, means for closing the lastnamed communication, and meanscarried by the upper frame member engagingsaid plungers.

(3. Fluid cushioning means for automobiles, comprising in combinationwith a suspension frame, embodying an upper member yieldingly-supportedat both ends and a lower frame member yieldingly-supported at one end.and nonyieldingly but pivotally supported at its other end, fluidreceiving cylinders supported by the lower frame member, plungersmounted in said cylinders and loosely engaged at their upper ends by theupper frame member, said cylinders normally in open communication witheach other, and means for closin communication between the cylinders,sai fluid receiwing cylinders constituting supplemental yieldingsupports for each end of the upper frame member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

REINHOLD HERMAN.

\Vitnesses A. M. WILSON, M. E. LOWRY.

